Rink ready to open

A portable ice skating rink at the St. Francis Field on Church Street in Naugatuck will open Saturday. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — Anyone looking to lace up their ice skates and hone their skills on a rink can do so in Naugatuck starting Saturday.

A new portable ice skating rink in Naugatuck will open for the first time Saturday at 10 a.m. The rink, located on the St. Francis Field on Church Street, was the brought to the borough through the efforts of Naugatuck resident and volunteer Linda Ramos. She raised $6,000 for the rink in about a year with the help of a $3,000 donation from the Ion Bank Foundation.

The 72-foot-by-92-foot oval rink with kick boards is about the size of a basketball court. The rink will be open and not enclosed by Plexiglas boards or barriers. Since St. Francis Field has lights, the public may be able to use the rink at night.

The rink will be open for the first time Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. A dedication ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Grilled hot dogs, hot popcorn, hot chocolate, and soft drinks will be available to purchase.

The rink will be open for public skating Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 6 p.m.

The only days and times when hockey sticks and pucks will be allowed on the rink are Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. and Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m.

In an email announcing the rink opening, Ramos invited the community to come Saturday and share in the dedication. She thanked all the sponsors of the rink, St. Francis Church and the Ion Bank Foundation for making the rink a reality.

“It takes a community to be able to serve all,” she said in the email.

Look for a full story on the rink opening in next week’s edition of the Citizen’s News.